When The Day the Earth Stood Stillpremiered, World War II was only six years behind us. We were still eighteen years away from landing on the moon. Even Sputnik was six years in the future. But the Atomic Age had arrived with a bang (two of them, in fact) and in a flash Everything Changed. Here's a movie that held up a mirror to some newly validated fears — such as our anxieties about weapons of mass destruction (the kind that actually existed), and about the part of ourselves that could let mob psychology and fear-based reactionism get seriously, globally out of control in ways that The Good War only hinted at.*

Today we watch The Day the Earth Stood Still and what strikes us most about it — perhaps more than the simple and polished screenplay by Edmund H. North (Patton), or Robert Wise's quietly thoughtful directing, or the splendid yet sparingly used special effects, or Bernard Herrmann's pathbreaking Theremin concerto musical score — is how little the world has fundamentally changed since 1951. All the international "petty squabbling" and "strange, unreasoning attitudes" that Klaatu found so distasteful have proved damn hard to grow out of.

The working titles of this film were Farewell to the Master and Journey to the World . Harry Bates's short story also appeared in a 1946 anthology of science fiction stories entitled Adventures in Time and Space . It received a Golden Globe Award as the "Best Film Promoting International Understanding." The picture, which is regarded by many film historians as one of the most influential and noteworthy of the 1950s cycle of science fiction films, received very positive reviews. The Time reviewer judged the picture to be "by far the best of Hollywood's recent flights into science-fiction." Gort is regarded by science fiction aficionados as one of the most best-loved and well-known of motion picture robots, and the command "Gort! Klaatu Barada Nikto" has become a part of the American film lexicon.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Beverly Hills, CA — Oscar-winning screen legend Olivia de Havilland will be honored with an Academy Tribute on June 15, 2006, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The two-time Academy Award winner will travel from her home in France to the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills for the event, which will feature film clips of her most-admired performances and discussion with colleagues from throughout her career.

Born on July 1, 1916, in Tokyo to English parents, de Havilland made her screen debut as Hermia in Max Reinhardt’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 1935, a role that she had also played on stage at the Hollywood Bowl. Her pairing with Errol Flynn in “Captain Blood,” also in 1935, proved a great success and subsequently the two starred together in seven more films, helping to solidify her leading lady status.

De Havilland earned the first of her five Academy Award nominations for her supporting performance as Melanie Hamilton in “Gone with the Wind.” Two years later, in 1941, her lead performance as Emmy Brown in “Hold Back the Dawn” was nominated. She earned her first Oscar statuette for her portrayal of Jody Norris in “To Each His Own” (1946). “The Snake Pit” (1948), in which she played Virginia Stuart Cunningham, provided de Havilland with another nominated lead performance and in 1949 she took home her second Academy Award for her role as Catherine Sloper in “The Heiress.” Among the directors with whom she worked during this period and later in her career were Michael Curtiz, Victor Fleming, Lewis Gilbert, John Huston, Stanley Kramer, Mitchell Leisen, Anatole Litvak and William Wyler.

Tickets for An Academy Tribute to Olivia de Havilland will go on sale June 1, 2006, for $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members. They will be available for purchase at the Academy during regular business hours or by mail. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information call 310-247-3600.

"Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon... we have the stars." --as Charlotte Vale in NOW, VOYAGER (1942).

A transformed Charlotte Vale in NOW, VOYAGER (1942) also starring Paul Henreid, Claude Rains and Gladys Cooper. In addition to nominations in the acting categories for Bette and Gladys Cooper, NOW, VOYAGER's musical score by Max Steiner won an Academy Award.

Bette's Oscar nomination for NOW, VOYAGER marked the fifth consecutive year in which she was so honored, a feat equaled only by Greer Garson (1941-1945) in Academy Award history.

DID YOU KNOW ???

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Producer Hal B. Wallis originally wanted Irene Dunne for the lead role, but Bette Davis convinced him otherwise.

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The Walt Whitman poem Bette Davis reads (just before leaving Cascades) is "The Untold Want" from Songs of Parting (just 2 lines): "The untold want by life and land ne'er granted / Now voyager sail thou forth to seek and find."

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Bette Davis complained about 'Max Steiner''s Academy Award-winning musical score, saying that it was too intrusive on her performance.

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The film is remembered for the scene in which Paul Henreid places two cigarettes in his mouth, lights them, and then passes one to Bette Davis, but it wasn't an original idea - a similar exchange occurred ten years earlier between Davis and 'George Brent' in Rich Are Always With Us, The (1932) .

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Nice to see you back in shape again Miss Jackson , But I 'm just can't help but Worry , Rapidly up and down weight doesn't sounds good to me... But I still love you anyway... Can't wait for your new CD.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

you have to admit, it'd be kind of poetic for Ace to end his Idol run with a song called ''That's All.'' plus lastnight the Sumo wrestler ponytail he had going on. That was *incredibly* distracting, and not in a good wayHere is unofficial VoteTaylor Hicks 30.7mElliott Yamin 30.2mKatharine McPhee 27.7mKellie Pickler 27.1mChris Daughtry 25.4mParis Bennett 24.3mAce Young 20.5m So Glad to see Chiris in Bottom 3 but Kellie is not is kinda annoying because she was the worst last night .

Elliott NO.2 surprise but happy for him .Taylor Hicks was NO.1 last night I think he's got a lot of boots from SNL .plus last night performance was really good.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Last night watching American Idol was really joyful . All of the contestant were amazing . I like Paris performance "These foolish thing" very Dinah Washington. Kathy Mcfever effortless performance of 'Someone who watch over me " is amazing! But my favorite performance was the grey hair Taylor Hicks in a Sam Cook version of " you send me" Just Blew me away!!! Soul Patrol!!! woh

Did you know??????????Well, if you want a commercial spot in the final episode of American Idol this season, you'll have to pay $1.3 million to get it.That is the figure that was announced today. This is one of the highest spots ever for a final episode. However, some are saying some advertisers have deals with Idol that will lower that cost by at least half.Read last night recap from EW Here

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Sharon Stone is raving mad because she insists Lana Turner wanted her to play Lana Turner before she died! But a new film has Catherine Zeta-Jones playing Lana Turner opposite Keanu Reeves. Sharon ain't having that shit!

The Postman Always Rings Twice actress met Stone before she died of throat cancer in 1995 and Stone reveals Turner wanted her to star in a movie celebrating her life. The film will look at eight-times married Turner's tumultuous marriage to gangster Johnny Stompanato, to be played by Keanu Reeves, who was killed in 1958 by her daughter Crane.

Stone says, "I met Lana in her final years and liked her a great deal. She was every inch the movie star and we got along really well. She said if there was a film to be made on her life, then I was her choice. Lana's life is one of the more interesting of the Hollywood greats. Lana really rocked."

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Royals from around the globe will join together this summer to celebrate the 60th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's ascension to the Thai throne.

The 79-year-old - now the world's longest-reigning living monarch - became the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty in June 1946.

Royals from nearly 30 countries around the world have accepted Thailand's invitation to celebrate his Diamond Jubilee on June 12-13.

They include Malaysia, Japan, Luxemburg and Sweden. Other countries, including Denmark, Spain, Morocco, Tonga, Bhutan, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium and the United Kingdom have confirmed that royal spouses, crown princes or other members of the royal families will participate in the celebrations."

DID You Know????

King Bhumibol is an accomplished jazz musician and composer. He was awarded honorary membership of the Vienna Institute of Music and Arts at the age of 32. He used to play jazz music on air on the Or Sor radio station earlier in his reign. His songs can often be heard at social gatherings and are performed in concerts.

Listen and Download The Musical Compositions of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej . Here

Though familiar to Americans primarily as a laid-back beach destination, Jamaica is hardly idyllic. The country has the world's highest murder rate. And its rampant violence against gays and lesbians has prompted human-rights groups to confer another ugly distinction: the most homophobic place on earth.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Errol Flynn liked all the best things in life: sex, drinking, sex, boating, sex, fighting, and more sex. Sounds like he and I will get along well ..; )When banned from drinking on a film set, Flynn injected oranges with vodka and would eat them during his breaks.

As one of MGM's resident Latin Lovers during the 1950s, Lamas got all the parts for which Ricardo Montalban was unavailable. Or was it vice versa? In any event, he was already a screen star in Argentina (since 1942) when Metro brought him to Hollywood in 1951. A supporting role in Rich, Young and Pretty marked his American screen debut, and his costarring turn with Lana Turner in the 1952 remake of The Merry Widow established him as a popular leading man. The following year the athletic star was cast opposite Esther Williams in Dangerous When Wet which led to an off-screen romance and marriage. Lamas' arched eyebrows and tightlipped mouth suggested a hint of cruelty that producers didn't properly exploit; he should have played more heavies. Did You know?He 's a Father of Lorenzo Lamas and a Grandfather of A.J. Lamas.Married Arlene Dahl (25 June 1954 - 1960) (divorced) 1 child and Esther Williams (31 December 1969 - 8 October 1982) (his death)

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

"I would advise any woman against having an affair with a married man believing he will ever leave his wife, no matter how often he says his wife does not understand him. Love is not as necessary to a man's happiness as it is to a woman's. If her marriage is satisfactory, a woman will seldom stray. A man can be totally contented and still be out howling at the moon."

"An affair now and then is good for a marriage. It adds spice, stops it from getting boring… I ought to know."

Suave, romantic leading man who successfully combined an easy, relaxed warmth with virile charisma and genuine acting talent. After a five-year career in Mexican movies in the early 1940s, Montalban spent the next seven at MGM in smooth Latin Lover roles or as swimming star Esther Williams co-star in musicals. Montalban did attempt a few other ambitious dramatic characterizations in which his character's Hispanic ethnicity played a part in the drama, but neither his embittered boxer in "Right Cross" (1950) nor his victimized fruit picker in "My Man and I" (1952) were enmeshed in dramas worthy of the actor's efforts. Montalban did better as a Mexican government agent Anthony Mann's potent film noir about the exploitation of illegal aliens, "Border Incident" (1949).

In 2002, he was cast as Grandpa Cortex in the family adventure feature "Spy Kids 2: The Island Of Lost Dreams," directed by Robert Rodriguez--a role Montalban reprised in the third sequel, "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over" (2003).

Sunday, April 09, 2006

Catherine Zeta-Jones is trying to convince Leonardo DiCaprio to reprise his role as Howard Hughes in her new film the upcoming Lana Turner biopic. The film, called "Stompanato," is a re-telling of the scandalous murder of thug and wannabe actor Johnny Stompanato, who was stabbed and killed by Turner's 14-year-old daughter.Keanu Reeves will co-star with Zeta Jones as Turner's abusive lover. The movie will also focus on the film star's many love affairs, including Howard Hughes.

However Lana Turner's daughter Cheryl Crane is so amazed by the striking resemblance between actress Sienna Miller and her late mother, she thinks the Layer Cake star should play Turner in an upcoming biopic.

Crane says, "What staggers me most is how much the lovely Sienna Miller resembles my mom. Really, she is a spitting image of her - sun tan and platinum boyish hairdo. I'm amazed. Sienna is really gorgeous."

Crane,who was just 14 years old at the time of the incident, claimed shestabbed her mother's boyfriend to protect her, and was acquitted of thecrime on the grounds of justifiable homicide.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Bette Davis played the Queen twice. She played her first in the film ThePrivateLivesofElizabethEssex (1939). Errol Flynn once again plays the courtier, this time Robert Devereux, Earl ofEssex, whose love for the Queen is not enough to prevent him seeking power. A convincing portrayal ofElizabeth from this great actress andthe real life tension between Flynn and Davis adds chemistry to their on screen performances.

Bette Davis wanted Laurence Olivier to play the role of Essex, and balked atWarner's casting Errol Flynn. Flynn then went ahead and tried to have the title changed from the originalstage title ELIZABETH THE QUEEN to THE KNIGHT THE LADY . When Davis threatened to walk out, the studio hastily came up with the final title.

Bette Davis played the Queen secondly inTheVirgin Queen (1955), which is the story of Sir Walter Raleigh, played by Richard Rodd. A young Joan Collins stars as Raleigh's wife,Bess Throckmorton.

Did you know?After the Queen B. Watched a screening of The Private Lives of Elizabeth Essex once again in the seventies she had told to her friend and her co star Olivia De havilland that Errol Flynnperformance was very good :said Davis

" I think he was very good no ....he was Marvelous and I was wrong all the time"